circumflex

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin circumflexus (“bent about”), calqued from Ancient Greek περισπώμενος (perispṓmenos, “drawn around”).

noun

1. A diacritical mark (ˆ) placed over a vowel in the orthography or transliteration of many languages to change its pronunciation; while in some other languages over a consonant.

adj

1. Having a circumflex mark.
   ê is e circumflex.
2. Curving around.
   The circumflex coronary artery

verb

1. To mark or pronounce with a circumflex.
   to circumflex a syllable
   those words […]circumflexed on the last syllabe 1791, John Walker, Critical Pronouncing Dictionary